Murder charge dropped against Flores; defendant released in Royal Inn stabbing case

A 25-year-old Eureka man was released from custody Monday after prosecutors dropped a murder case against him.

William Flores was scheduled to appear in Humboldt County Superior Court for a hearing to determine if there was enough evidence to hold him to stand trial on a charge that he fatally stabbed Eureka resident Joshua Burrell, 33, but prosecutors dropped the murder charge and a special allegation that the slaying was carried out in association with a criminal street gang.

"We got some information based on further investigation that has us looking at some additional suspects," prosecuting Deputy District Attorney Elan Firpo said. "I think we should wait until we have some more information before we proceed. The cleanest thing to do at this time is to dismiss and, if need be, refile (the case) at a later time."

Flores was released from the jail shortly after noon.

He was arrested Sept. 18 in connection with the death of Burrell, who police found a few days earlier, lying in the parking lot of Eureka's Royal Inn with a single stab wound to the upper chest.

Burrell had been released from the Humboldt County jail about 30 minutes before officers were dispatched to the nearly motel, which is located just a few blocks away on Fifth Street. EPD Detective Todd Wilcox said after Flores' arrest that it was still unclear what prompted the fatal altercation on Sept. 15.

Wilcox said police were having a hard time getting witnesses to come forward, which Firpo said remains the case.

"We believe there was a crowd watching, but we've had a real difficult time getting people to come forward," she said, adding that she believes five to 10 people were watching the altercation that led to Burrell's stabbing, which appeared to be loud and took place in front of a full motel.

Firpo made clear that investigators have not ruled Flores out as a suspect, but she said the investigation has turned up additional suspects. Until investigators can sort out exactly what role, if any, they believe he had in the homicide, Firpo said she didn't believe it was appropriate to proceed.

Burrell was arrested by Rio Dell Police on Sept. 14 and booked into the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and violating his parole. He was found by responding officers about 30 minutes after his 12:38 a.m. release from custody the following day. Burrell was pronounced dead a short time later at St. Joseph Hospital.

Neither prosecutors nor investigators have released a potential motive for Burrell's stabbing, but prosecutors filed a special allegation that Flores killed Burrell for the benefit of, or at the direction of, a criminal street gang; with the specific intent of furthering, assisting or promoting the gang.

The special allegation raised the maximum sentence Flores faced by an additional 15 years, up to 40 years to life in prison. Firpo said she filed the special allegation based on evidence that Flores is part of a criminal street gang.

"Mr. Flores has gang tattoos, he represents he's part of a gang and there's gang graffiti (in the Royal Inn parking lot) that had Mr. Flores' moniker on it," she said. "There's an argument that any violent crime committed by someone who represents to be in a gang is ultimately carried out in furtherance of that gang's activities, because that violent crime adds to the gang's reputation and notoriety."

Some legal experts are critical of such gang enhancement charges, saying prosecutors often file them in order to bring in salacious and inflammatory evidence to paint defendants as violent, dangerous people in front of a jury.

The case remains under investigation, and police are hoping witnesses can come forward to help them piece together what took place in the 30 minutes between when Burrell was released from jail and when he was found dying. Officials ask that anyone with information about the case call Wilcox at 441-4060 or DA Chief Investigator Wayne Cox at 445-7411.